Powertoys: [FancyZones] Span across monitors setting does not function

[MrBenMyster]

ℹ Computer information

• PowerToys version: v0.21.1
• PowerToy Utility: FancyZones
• Running PowerToys as Admin: No
• Windows build number: Windows 10 Version 2004: 19041.450

📝 Provide detailed reproduction steps (if any)

1. Check the Allow zones to span across monitors checkbox
2. Configure a zone which uses multiple monitors via the Launch zones editor and Apply
3. Attempt to snap window to zones, or use Shift key to highlight zones while dragging

✔️ Expected result

• A window should snap to a zone
• Zone highlighting ought to be functional
• The Allow zones to span across monitors setting should persist even when closing settings
• If there are errors "Activating" the zones, these should be raised to the user

❌ Actual result

• A window will not snap to a zone when the Allow zones to span across monitors is configured
• Window zone highlighting is also not functional
• When FancyZones settings is closed and re-opened, the Allow zones to span across monitors checkbox is unchecked
• When Allow zones to span across monitors is toggled to checked, then unchecked, zone highlighting and snapping functions, though obviously not with the multi-monitor zones

📝 Other Notes

• There is a difference in framerate/refresh rate between the two monitors--could that be an issue?
• System is a SurfaceBook 2 in a Surface Dock which drives a 2560 x 1440 monitor at 60 fps and a 2560 x 1440 monitor at 30 fps
  
  
  
  • The fps cannot be made the same as far as I can tell. Likely a hardware limitation.
  
  
• Display is an LG 49 ultra-wide ( 5120 x 1440)

📷 Screenshots

• FancyZones Settings:
  

• Zone Editor spanning monitors:
  

• Monitor configuration:
  

[Swallowtail23]

I have the same issue, with some more information.
Samsung 49" Ultrawide, 5120x1440, connected as 2 x DisplayPort monitors, both running at 2560x1440 @ 60Hz.

• FancyZones not functional with apply across monitors - shift key or alternate mouse button do nothing when dragging windows
• Set across monitors does not retain when leaving FancyZones settings
• Zone editor previews across all zones correctly when trying to set zones, but applying does not "do" anything - go back into editor and it is back to the default 3 x stacked

[bensteinfeld]

Same issue.
Two totally separate monitors.

[Swallowtail23]

I'm going to roll back to the previous version as FZ is now completely broken :(
Laptop setup to drive two screens issue as described above; on a PC connected to same screen driving it as a single 5120x1440 holding shift key while moving a screen crashes Explorer (even when NOT set to allow zones to span across monitors, as there is only one). Also zone editor no longer retains any selected / edited zones.

[enricogior]

@Swallowtail23
can you please open separates issues for the other problems you are experiencing with 0.21.1, thanks.

[Swallowtail23]

@Swallowtail23
can you please open separates issues for the other problems you are experiencing with 0.21.1, thanks.

Will do a separate ticket for the PC single-screen issue. To clarify what I am seeing with this issue after a bit more tweaking.

HP laptop, 2 x DP outputs, each into 1 x half of a 5120x1440 49" UW monitor, 2560x1440 each at 60Hz - 1 DP->DP, 1 DP->HDMI.

Scenario 1 - FZ "Allow Zones to span across monitors" NOT enabled

• Working as designed, can set zones separately on both screens as expected, shift works, etc. all good.

Scenario 2 - enable spanning:

• Issue 1: Tick the "Allow Zones to span across monitors" box, go into Zone editor; Zones shown are "Focus" on screen 1 only; select anything else and hit apply, Zone Editor crashes (no message, but closes instantly, more rapidly than normally when it accepts the zones); repeats every time, so you cannot set zones across both screens
• Issue 2: "Allow Zones to span across monitors" setting is not retained after leaving FZ settings (not that it makes any difference anyway due to issue 1)

[Burning1020]

Same issue.
apply span across monitors but do nothong when hold Shift key

[enricogior]

@Burning1020
have you applied a new layout after enabling the feature?

[Burning1020]

@Burning1020
have you applied a new layout after enabling the feature?

i did. i lauch editor -> choose my custom layout -> apply -> hold Shift key but the blue backgroud frame doesn't apper -> back to editor and it back to deafult layout as mentioned above

[enricogior]

Thank you all for reporting this, we have found the cause.

[SonomaLandTrust]

Not sure if this fits here, but custom layout on a desktop that spans two monitors not working as expected.
Layout editor appears to work, and then I apply, but when snapping it uses another different layout pattern.

One monitor is landscape and the other portrait.

[mourneris]

Same happens for me as of 9/7/2020 on a fully up-to-date installation of Windows 10, with PowerToys v0.21.1.

Effectively there is no multi-monitor support for Fancy Zones since the SHIFT+Drag does not work and the zone settings are not saved when that option, "Allow zones to span across windows", is active.

[enricogior]

Fixed in 0.23.0 https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/releases/tag/v0.23.0